Toll ticketing telephone system



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16 Sheets-Sheet 15 Aug. 27, 1963 TOLL TICKETING TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 28, 1959 Aug. 27, 1963 w. H. BERCH ErAL TOLL TICKETING TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 28, 1959 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 Aug. 27,1963 w. H. BERcH ETAL Tou. TICKETING TELEPHONE: SYSTEM Filed Aug. 28, 1959 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 Aug. 27, 1963 w. H. BERCH ErAL TOLL TICKETING TELEPHONE SYSTEM 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Aug. 28, 1959 l lll N n gmxL W n L; 09ML W u EL. W i no@ n D l l o2 W mom V United States Patent O v 3,102,166 TOLL TICKETING TELEPHONE SYSTEM William H. Berch, Penreld, and Milton A. Clement,

Rochester, N.Y., Robert K. Kaye, Medford Lakes,

NJ., and John William Newitt, Rochester, N.Y.,

assignors to General Dynamics Corporation, Rochester, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 836,752 33 Claims. (Cl. 179-71) This invention relates to a telephone system and more particularly to a telephone system including means for `automatically ticketing -toll calls.

In order to provide completely automatic facilities for producing permanent records of toll calls, it is necessary to have available various items of information including: called number, called area, calling number, and the date and time of call. From the foregoing data an `applicable rate between the two stations m-ay be determined and combined with the elapsed time to compute the total charge tovbe made for the call.

A system for the registration of the required information and the ultimate printing of `a toll ticket of uniform format is disclosed and described .in the Morris and Clement Patent No. 2,877,311. In addition, the copending application orf Carl G. Shook, Serial No. 693,089, filed October Z9, 1957, now Patent No. 3,007,004 entitled An Electronic Rate Marker, and which is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, discloses a means for translating appropriate information into a rate sign-a1 to beprovided to a computer.

The cited patent discloses a means of recording the pertinent information on a magnetic tape land of recovering .the information from the tape 'to-produce a toll ticlcet. As shown in the cited patent, the magnetic tape uses two recording channels, one referred to las the mark channel, is used for recording digital information while the other, referred to las the space channel, is used for magnetically recording the space between each series, or chai-n, of marks. intelligible and useful information can only be recovered from the tape if lthe correct correspondence between digital sequence and significance can be determined. The means for achieving this in the cited patent is to use Ia uniform and constant number of digits for each piece of information. This requires,

for example, that the first seven digits of information must lalways comprise the called number, .the next series of marks must always indicate the month, etc. Naturally, any suitable sequence of recording may be used as long as the same sequence is inll'exibly maintained thereby preserving the positional, or sequential, lsignificance of the digits represented by the pulses recorded as marks. Thus the system disclosed in the cited patent is limited, in that called numbers of la variable number of digits cannot be accommodated.

The present invention isv directed to ya toll ticketing telephone system in which the called number may consist of .a variable number of digits. Consequently, the recorded digits sequential position is not indicative of the ydigi-ts significance. Therefore, the readout equipment, which recovers the recorded information from the magnetic tape, must he furnished information in addition to that normally placed on the tape in order to ascertain th-e significance of a recorded digit from the digits sequential positioning. That is, .the readout equipment must be infomed when the six-th group of .pulses on the ICC tape is to be interpreted `as the sixth digit of a seven-digit called num-ber and when it should bie interpreted as the month indication following a five-digit called number.

The use of uniform numbering wherein called numbers consist of a total of seven digits, usually expressed as the two-letter, five-digit numbering system, obv-lates much confusion as most called numbers thus comprise seven digits However, with the advent of nationwide subscriber toll dialing `with the attendant requirement for a three-digit area 'prefix to be dialed pri-or to the dialing of the called number when the called number is outside the area of the calling number, it is apparent that even with two-letter, five-digit numbering that some called nurnbers will consist of seven digits while others will comprise a total of ten digits.

The cited copending application of Carl G. Shook, Serial No. 693,089, filed October 29, 1957 discloses a means of translating area code, called office code and calling office code information into a rate signal to a computer. The `Shook .system presupposes that each of these items be recorded in a predetermined sequence in a predetermined group of registers ywhich may be sequentially interrogated to detenmine the Yapplicable rate to be furnished toa computer. rIhus in the Shook system, if one of the required items was not available or if they were recorded in variable registers, the proper nate could not tbe determined.

The present invention is directed to a rate marker which y is capable of testing for the presence or absence of an area code and in accordancewith .the results. of said testing rfor interrogating the proper registers in obtainingrate determining data.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved automatic toll ticketing system.

Another object is to provide @a toll ticketing system including new and improved means for providing an intelligible record of -a toll call.

Another object is to provide an automatic toll 'ticket-v ing *system which is' operable with called numbers having a variable number of digits.

Another object is to' provide an automatic toll ticketing system having means to restore digital significance to recorded digits even though the digital position may vary.

Another object is to provide a toll ticketing system having a new and improved rate translator lfor providing rate information to :a computer.

Another object is to provide a rate translator for a toll ticketing system andloperable with or without called area code infomation.

Another object is to provide a rate translator for -an automatic toll ticketing system operable to furnish Ia unique rate :signal irrespective of the fact that certain rate determining .digits may be recorded in variable ones of a plurality of registers depending upon the nature of the variable digitcalled number.

Another object is to provide permanent records of toll calls having `a uniform format irrespective ofv the vfact that the called n'umbermay have a variable number of digi-ts."

Other objects and advantages of the'present invention will lbecome apparent from the ensuing description of-an illustrative embodiment thereof, and features of novelty which characterize the invention Willftbe pointed outin particularity in the claims annexed to .and forming a part of this specification.

For a complete understanding of this invention, reference may ybe had 'to lthe :accompanying drawings which comprise twenty figures on sixteen sheets. The sixteen sheets of drawings shotud be arranged as shown in FlG. 2O to show the invention.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 .are a block diagram of an automatic toll ticketing system embodying the present invention which is Yshown in conjunction with a conventional automatic :telephone system,

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show the circuit details of the steering circuit land the steering write-in control circuit,

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the circuit details of a typical register circuit,

FIGS. 9, l0, l1 and 12 show the circuit details of the steering readout circuit,

FIGS. 13 to 19, inclusive, show circuit details of the various elements of the rate translator, and

FIG. is a block diagram disclosing the manner in which FIGS. 1-12. lare positioned to form a complete circuit diagram of an automatic toll ticketing lsystem forming an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, therein is disclosed, in block diagram form, the improved electronic readout and register equipment which is illustrated in conjunction with certain components of an automatic telephone system of the type described and disclosed in detail in the referenced Morris and Clement patent. In general, this automatic toll ticketing system includes a plurality of trunk recorders, such as trunk recorder 10, each of which is individual to a trunk circuit 11 through which toll calls are extended. The trunk recorder 10 is preferably of the type disclosed in the Gleason Patent No. 2,867,435. As disclosed therein, the trunk recorder 10 includes an endless loop of magnetic tape adjacent to which two transversely spaced transducing heads are disposed to provide two effective channels on the magnetic tape. One of these channels is adapted to receive intelligence, or mark, pulses and the other of these channels is adapted to receive control, or space, pulses; the space `signals being interposed between consecutive groups of mark pulses to define the effective ends thereof. The trunk recorder includes a step-by-step drive mechanism for advancing the magneti-c tape intermittently during a recording operation and a selectively controlled continuous drive mechanism for advancing the endless loop of magnetic tape continuously during reproducing or retransmitting operations.

When the trunk circuit 1l1 to which the recorder 1d is connected is seized during the extension of a toll call, circuits are prepared therein for repeating the dialed digits to the recorder 10 and for supplying a space pulse followving each of the dialed digits. These circuits repeat the impulses of fthe dialed digits directly to the mark pulse transducing head so that spaced groups of mark pulses, each containing la number of pulses equal to the value ofa dialed digit, are recorded on the tape. The control circuits automatically energize the space pulse transducing head to record a space signal on the magnetic tape immediately following each of the groups of mark pulses. In this manner, all of the digits dialed in extending a toll connection are recorded on the magnetic tape,

The digits dialed by the calling subscriber represent the directory number of the called subscriber. Depending upon the numbering plan of the terminating ofiice, 'the called number may consist of a variable number of digits, usually varying between four and eight, with most called numbers having seven digits. In addition, if the system is adapted for use in nationwide toll dialing, an area code may be dialed prior to the dialing of lthe terminating subscribers directory number. Consequently, it is evident that the recorded information may be composed iof a variable number of digits and that special provisions must be made to indicate the separation between the dialed information and other digital information which is pulsed onto the magnetic tape to provide further information relative to the dialed call.

One means of providing the required separation of information is to provide a digit counting means in each trunk circuit and cause it to place dummy digits on the tape in each unused position. That is, called numbers using less than the maximum number of digits could be artificially buitt up to the maximum number of digits. While such a device would provide a workable solution, it is neither convenient nor economical as such a device would `be required in each trunk and would require unnecessary use of the magnetic tape. Consequently, the present invention contemplates the use of a double space indication on the magnetic ttape fat the conclusion of the dialed information and prior to the placing of other digital information on |the tape.

Following the storage of the called number in the trunk recorder 10, the trunk or adapter circuit with which the trunk recorder 1t) is associated waits for an answer supervision signal from the terminating oiiice. In response to the answer supervision signal, which may be in any suitable form, a space is placed on the tape immediately following the space which was placed on the tape at the conclusion of the last dialed digit. In further response to the answer supervision, other pertinent information such as date and time, calling number, etc., are pulsed onto the tape. Elapsed time pulses are periodically put on the tape during the time the connection is held.

At the termination of the call and following the recording of all of the necessary items of information in the trunk recorder 10, the connection is released and the adapter or trunk circuit operates to record an end-of-call signal on the tape signifying the completion of the recording of all of the items of information pertaining to the call.

The readout equipment accepts all information prior to ltwo consecutive spaces as called number information and in response to the indication of the two consecutive spaces, the remaining digital pulses are accorded their proper significance in accordance with their sequential position from `the two consecutive spaces. When the data stored in the trunk recorder ltl is to be recorded in permanent form, a readout control circuit 12 places a switch means 12a associated therewith in operation to search for and seize one of a plurality of idle playback control circuits, such as playback control circuit 14, to which the `switching means 12a has access. Upon the seizure of the playback control circuit 14, this circuit operates a switching means 14a associated therewith to search for and seize an idle trunk recorder, such as the recorder 10. Incident to placing the circuits 12 fand 14 in operation, the recording and registering facilities associated with the readout control circuit 12 are cleared and placed in a normal condition in which they are capable of receiving, storing, and recording the items of information sto-red in the trunk recorder '16. Following the completion of this resetting or clearing operation, the playback control circuti 1d renders the continuous drive mechanism in the trunk recorder 1d effective so that the endless loop of magnetic tape is advanced to transmit a series of mark pulses through the playback control circuit 14 to a mark pulse amplifier 16 and to transmit the space pulses separating the various groups of mark pulses through the playback control circuit 14 to a space pulse amplifier 18. 'Ihe mark pulse amplifier 16 amplifics and shapes the successive groups of mark pulses received from fthe trunk recorder 10 and applies these groups of pulses to an output conductor 16a which is connected in common to the input of a plurality of counting type register chains 21 to 43. Eleven of the digit register circuits are used-during readout tto register ythe called, or dialed, digits. Registers 21, 22 and 23 may be used to register an area code, when dialed, or `they may register the first three digits of the called number which with a two-letter, live- 'git number represent the called oiiice Icode A, B and C igits. Registers 2li-31 may be used for recording the remaining digits of the called number including the called office code A, B and C 'digits when an area code has been dialed. As will be shown, registers within the group 21-31 which are not required for registering the called subscriber number designation are left blank or vacant.

In order to render the registers Z1-31 effect-ive in sequence to register only a single one of the groups of mark pulses appearing on the common mark pulse conductor 16a, a steering circuit 50 is provided having a plurality of switching stages. When the first group of mark pulses appear on the common mark pulse conductor 16a, the first switching stage of steering circuit Sil is in a conductive condition to provide an enabling bias for the input yof the register 21 and accordingly the vdue of the first digit is stored in register 21. Thereafter the successive space pulses applied to the space pulse amplifier 18 from the trunk recorder 10, which pulses are interspersed between adjacent groups of mark pulses, are amplified thereby and applied to a common space conductor 18a. The rst pulse appearing on the conductor 13a disables the first switching stage of steering circuit 5t) `aud operates the second switching stage so that the second group of mark pulses is effective to operate the second digit register 22 thereby to store the value of this digit therein. In a similar manner, fthe remaining switching stages of the steering -circuit 5@ may be operated in sequence to successively enable the remaining registers, whereby each register receives one group of mark pulses.

The steering write-in control circuit 7 d permits the successive enabling of the first eleven switching stages of steering circuit 50 in their turn as long as space pulses are received on space conductor 18a interspersed between each group of mark pulses on conductor 16a. In response to two consecutive space pulses on conductor 18a without any intervening mark pulses on conductor 16a, the steering write-in control circuit 7@ will place an enabling potential on enabling lead ma thereby enabling stage 12 of steering circuit 50. The enabling of stage 12 causes the previously enabled stage, which may be lany stage 4-11, to be disabled. Thus, the two consecutive space pulses with no intervening mark pulses causes the steering writein control ycircuit 7d to enable a specific or predetermined one of the stages in steering circuit 56. As -a consequence, only those registers from the `group 21-31 which are required for the storage of the dialed digits are used. Furthermore, the next bit of information which, in the illustrated embodiment, represents the calling office code is registered in the calling `office code register circuit 32 rather than in the next succeeding idle register. Consequently, the two consecutive spaces `are effective to restore signihcance tothe groups of mark pulses by indicating the end of the variable length called number and the start of other digital information wherein a strict correspondence is maintained between digital sequence and significance. i

The remaining digital information on the magnetic tape in the form of groups of mark pulses separated by' space pulses is transferred to the remaining regi-sters 33-43 under the control of steering circuit Sil.

READOUT AND PRINTING Referring still to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the principles of readout and the printing o-f the toll ticket may be described. The information stored in the registers 21-43 may be yread out and transferred to punched tape, a typed ticket or `any convenient form of data processing equipment. For convenience and simplicity of description, it will be assumed that an electrically controlled device, such as la typewriter, is used to print the toll tickets. The typewriter or printer t) is arranged to print character-by-character and after printing each character or performing other functions, such -as spacing or carriage returns, it places a pulse on printing pulse conductor PP to signal the steering readout circuit 36 that the printer 80 is ready to accept another character. Because various codes are used by various printing or data processing devices that may ybe used in conjunction with this equipment, -a translator 82 is used between the registers 21-43 and the printer Si). The function of the translator 82 is to translate or convert the signals received to the necessary code that will cause the printer or other data processing equipment to print the desired character.

In preparing a toll ticket of uniform and convenient format, it is necessary to insert fixed characters, spaces and carriage returns at suitable points. These are inserted [by the fixed character printing circuit 84 which is in essence a simple register capable of registering only fixed or constant information. During the reading and printing process, the'steering and readout circuit 86 will interrogato the necessary registers 2,1-43 and the fixed character registers within the fixed character printing circuit 84 in Ia predetermined sequence to produce a toll ticket of convenient format. Naturally, all toll tickets should have a uniform format irrespective of the f-act that an area code may or may not have been dialed in conjunction with the dialing of the called subscribers telephone number. That is, a line on the toll ticket should be reserved for the printing of an area code when required. Thus, an 'area code detector circuit 74 is employed to determine the presence or labsence of an area code. It will be recalled, by those skilled in the art, that the numbering plan used in the nationwide toll dialing system is one which permits no conflict between area codes `and oflice codes. The ofiice codes are made up of two letters and a digit land, since no letters are found with either the ydigits 1 or 0 'on a telephone dial, an office code cannot have la 1 or 0 in either of the first two positions. Therefore, to provide a clear distinction between the two, all area codes are yassigned with either a 1 or 0 as the second digit `of the three-digit area code. The area code detector circuit 74 may, by examination yof register 22, determine the presence or absence of an area code. The presence or `absence is passed respectively on ythe yes area code conductor YAC or the no area code conductor NAC to the steering readout circuit S6. In response'to the signal received on either conductor YAC or NAC, the steering readout circuit 86 in cooperation with the fixed character printing circuit 84 will cause the digits registered in the registers 21-23 to be printed in the'area code space or the called office code space as may be required.

As an economy in the u-se of magnetic tape, the oliice code of the calling number is put on the ltape in coded single digit form. However, it is desirable to have the toll ticket prepared indicating the calling office in the usual two-letter and single-digit form. The required translation may be made in the office code translating circuit 78 which intericgates the calling ofhce code register circuit 32 and' in turn provides the proper three-digit office code to the translator S2 and printer 80 as the steering readout circuit 86 reads the three-digit translated code from the office code translating circuit 7 3.

RATE TRANSLATING In addition to the reading of thel registers for the purpose of printing la ticket, the registers are read to determine the rate at which the registered call should be charged. Various items must be considered in determining :the rate; for example, the terminating area, `the terminating office code, `the calling office code as well as the date and time of day. Signals representing these items may be combined in various combinations to obtain a single rate signal. The resulting rate signal is directed to la computer which combines this signal with the signal representing the call holding period to determine the total charge to be made for the particular call. While the techniques `are not shown in these drawings, as they do not form any part of this invention, the computed charge is printed yon the toll lticket produced by the printer.

Referring still to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the principles of rate translating may be illustrated. As previously described, registers 21, 22 and 23 may have registered therein either area code or called office code information. In the former case, register 22 Will have recorded therein either a l or a while in the latter case, any of the digits 2 to 9 may be recorded in register 22.

Area code detector.-When register 22 is enabled by stage 2 of the steering circuit 50, an enabling potential is placed on lead 22a thereby enabling tube 74a as well as register 22. At the conclusion of the registration of the digit in register 22, a space pulse will be received on lead 18a thereby tiring tube 74a. If any of the plurality of leads represented collectively by lead 74e which are connected to the cathodes of tubes 2.-9 in register 22 have thereon an enabling potential, as a result of one of the tubes 2-9 being red, then the tiring of tube 74a furnishes a pulse Ithrough matrix 74b to tube 74d which thereby lires. The tiring of tube 74d extinguishes tube 74e which had been turned on by a reset pulse on lead 12b from the readout control circuit 12 at the start of the readout operation. Obviously, had no potential been present on `one of the plurality of conductors represented by lead 74e, the no area code tube 74d would not have been fired and the yes area code tube 74e would have remained fired. Therefore, if no area code is indicated, an enabling potential will be placed on lead NAC while if an area code is indicated, an enabling potential will be placed Ion lead YAC. The enabling of register 33` also places a potential on conductor 33a. The following space pulse on conductor 18a passes through matrix 74k to either lead 74m or 74u depending upon whether lead YAC or NAC has the enabling potential. Thus a pulse is placed on lead 74m if an area code is registered in registers 21, 22 and 23 while a pulse is placed on lead 74u if an otlice code is registered in registers 21, 22 yand 23.

Called office code matrix-The called oiice code matrix is used to translate the plural digit called office code to a single pulse, or signal, on a unique lead indicative of the specific called oice involved. Since the called office code may be registered in either registers 21, 22 and 23 or 24, 25 and 26, depending respectively on the absence or presence of an area code, two called office code matrices 75 and 76 are provided. The former being used when there is no area code while the latter is used when there is `an area code. The operation of the two called otlice code matrices is similar and therefore only one will be described.

Called ofiice code matrices for no area code 75 translates the A, B and C digits of the called oftice code to a signal on a selec-ted one of a plurality of output conductors represented collectively as 75a. The tube which is tired in each of the called office code registers will place an indicating or enabling voltage on an individual lead correspending to the digit registered therein. Since in a called ofce code the A and B digits may only be represented by the numerals 2-9 inclusive, only these leads are Wired to the called office code matrix. The l and 0 leads from the second registers will be wired to the area code matrix as will be explained later. The group of leads from registers 21, 22 and 23' are represented collectively by lines 75b, 75e and 75d. It should be noted that the indicating voltages are present on these leads from the time that the respective digits were registered. That is, the pulse is placed on the lead 7411 after the indicating voltages are placel on leads 75h, 75C and 75d. Therefore, the pulse on lead 74n may be used to tire the selected one of the plurality of tubes indicated collectively as 75e which is enabled by the potential on lead 75d. In turn, -a pulse is passed to matrix 75f and is selectively passed therethrough to a selected one of the plurality of conductors, represented collectively by line 75a, in accordance with the indicating or enabling voltages on two of the plurality of conductors represented collectively by lines 75b and 75C.

Day-night matrix.-The day-night matrix 77 is used to modify rates as may be required in accordance with tht time of day the call was made. For example, a signal on a selected one of the plurality of leads indicated collectively as 77a may, after going through matrix 77C, come out on a selected first or second one of a plurality of leads rindicated collectively Vas 77b. Thus, there are twice as many out-put leads 77b as input leads 77a, or each input lead splits into two possible output leads. The particular output lead on which the signal appears is determined conjointly by the input lead and which one of the tubes 77d or 77e is fired. During a reset operation at the start of the readout program, tube 77d is red by a pulse on reset lead 12b from readout control circuit 12. The clockcalendar circuit (not shown) which causes marks to be placed on the tape of the trunk recorder 10 indicates, in the hours tens position, by the number of marks sent to the tape whether the call is to 4be charged at the day or night rate. This is accomplished, in general, as follows. The hours tens digit can only be 0, 1 or 2. If the hours tens digit is to be 0, l or 2 and the call is to be charged at the day rate then 0, 1 or 2 marks are pulsed onto the tape; while if the hours tens digit is to be 0, 1 or 2 and the call is to be charged at the night rate then 3, 4 or 5 marks are pulsed onto the tape. Consequently, three or more marks on the tape in the hours tens position indicates that the call is to be charged at the night rate.

It will be noted that lead 77g provides a 60 volt enabling voltage to tube 77e thus if, as the hours tens digit is being registered in register 37, the third tube is tired then a pulse is put on lead 77h to tire tube 77e which in turn places an indicating potential on lead 77j to matrix 77C thereby indicating that input signals on 77a should be translated to night rate signals on 77b. Had the tube 77e not been tired by a pulse on lead 7711 then an indicating potential on lead 77k to matrix 77e indicates that the input signals on 77a are to be translated to day rates on 77b.

Called o/ce registers-The called oice registers 91 and 92 accept pulses on one of the plurality of conductors represented collectively by leads 75a and 76a respectively and register the receipt thereof. If the pulse enters one of the plurality of tubes represented collectively by 91b or 92h a rate signal is put on one of the plurality of output conductors represented collectively by lead 91e or 92a` to tire one of the plurality of rate register tubes represented collectively by rate register 93.

If the input pulse to the called ollice register enters one of the plurality of tubes represented collectively as 91a or 92a, a marking potential may be placed on one of the plurality of conductors represented collectively by lead 94a.

Area code matrx.-The area code matrix 9S is similar to the called ofce code matrices 75 and 76 in that the function of the area code matrix 95 is to translate a plural digit area code to a single signal on a selected one of a plurality of output conductors represented collectively as 95a. It should be noted that the cathode conductors from tubes 1 and 10 are the only ones Wired from register 22 to the area code matrix 95e. Thus, unless there is an enabling voltage on one or the other of these two conductors, indicating an area code, there can be no output signal responsive to an input signal.

The translate pulse is the space pulse next following the placement of the enabling potential on `conductor 39a. This pulse tires tube 95b which sends a pulse to tire the one of the plurality of tubes represented collectively by 95e which is enabled by a conducting tube in register 23. The tired 95C tube passes a pulse on conductor 95d through matrix 95e thereby providing an output on a selected one of a plurality of leads represented collectively by 95a. The selected conductor is determined in accordance with which of the plurality of leads from registers 21 and 22 to matrix 95e have thereon an enabling voltage.

Area point registers-The area point registers 96 are similar to the called ofce registers 91 and 92 in that they receive an output pulse from a matrix and pass it 

1. IN A TOLL TICKETING TELEPHONE SYSTEM, A SOURCE OF FIRST PULSES, A SOURCE OF SECOND PULSES, A PULSE-OPERATED STEERING CIRCUIT HAVING A PLURALITY OF STEPS INCLUDING A PREDETERMINED STEP AND ADAPTED TO RESPOND TO PULSES FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND PULSE SOURCES, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID STEERING CIRCUIT TO ADVANCE FROM ONE STEP TO THE NEXT SUCCESSIVE STEP IN RESPONSE TO THE RECEIPT OF EACH PULSE FROM SAID FIRST PULSE SOURCE ONLY IF AT LEAST ONE PULSE IS RECEIVED FROM SAID SECOND PULSE SOURCE BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE PULSES FROM SAID FIRST PULSE SOURCE, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE RECEIPT OF TWO SUCCESSIVE PULSES FROM SAID FIRST PULSE SOURCE WITHOUT AN INTERVENING PULSE FROM SAID SECOND PULSE SOURCE FOR CONTROLLING SAID STEERING CIRCUIT TO ADVANCE DIRECTLY TO SAID PREDETERMINED STEP, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE NUMBER OF STEPS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED TO ADVANCE TO SAID PREDETERMINED STEP. 